Phonograph needle package



United;

PHoNoGRAPH NEEDLE PACKAGEA u n Albert R. Kaspar'i, Moum Prospect, Henry C. Rufherferd,

Wilmette, 'Ill., as-

Chicago, and George M. Avalon,

a corporation of signors to Fdelitone, Incorporated, Illinois Us Y FileaAug-e,19s1,fser.N0.616,576 '7 Claims. (Cl. M16-45.119) l The present invention relates toaphonograph'needle package, `and more particularly toa package in which ref replacement needles should be one that -fully protects the needle at -all times while -in the package. Duetothe today are driven at -four dierent speeds requiring variations inV needle types, there are-.in .use todayliterally many hundreds of different kinds ofphonograph needles. Consequently, there must of replacement needles..v

cated problem for. the'retailer ofsuch needles, 'since he must stock the many diie'rent kinds and .lmustbe'rablev to sell the purchaser what he wantsin the line of arecomplete identication Yof the phonograph needle and what needle it isto replace so that both the retailer and the customer will have no problem in selling 'and' purchasing, respectively, such needles.

Many times when replaclngfa needle `special tools are necessary, and it is common practice for these tools to be supplied with a replacement needle;V Consequently, the needle package must contain the special tools or other equipment (installation aids) useful in installing the replacement needle. ment needles it has been -found desirable for the. 1na 1'1 u facturer to include a small mirror element which can be placed underthe pickup unit so thatritrnay aid the c ustom er in observing the screws to` be removed in replacing the needle. Such mirror, in .addition to thel toolslfor r e.y

placing the needle `fand-'perhaps additional `nutsA or washers, preferably should be included in the: replacevment needle package." -In other words, allrequired installationaids shouldbe includedv in the needle package. The retailer, in selling a needle, andgto maintainstock,l

control, often wishes to keep a running` account of the largeVV number of manufacturers of phonograph pickups, n and also thevarie'ty of types. of pllmogrr'aphpickups` available, aswelljas the 'fact that'phonographjrecords sold Y e 2: available onthe package. As a further check, the dealer should know whether the needle is to be used with 78 r.p.m. records, 45 r.p.m. records, 33% r.p.m. records, or 16% r.p.m. records, and some ready means of color coding in this regard should be available. Accordingly, itis an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved package for phonograph needles.

It is another object of the` present invention to provide a package -for phonograph needles in which `the needle is visible yand yet is completely protected against damage Vby rough handling or the like.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provisionA of a needle package which'includes space for required installation aids such as tools and the like.

I t is a further object yof the present invention to provide aneedle package including a single element inserted in the package serving as a label, as a vreorder aid, and also as a packaging aid. f r

Further objects and advantages of the present vinvention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention willwbe pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. r Y l For ra lbetter understanding of thepresent invention Yreference may be had to the accompanying drawing in Fig 1 isa'jperspective view o f'a` phonograph needle be available literally hundreds This Vinakes;V a rrather" compli- In connection with'certain replace-.rl

package ofthe 40 placement. Obviously, such packages musthave rather package embodyingthe present invention;

,a somewhat enlarged sectionall View -taken Fig isa smallenlargedsectional view taken online Of Fig. 2; 35

taken -onyline ofrFiggS, assuming that Fig. 3 shows ythe complete structure; Y Fig, 5- ispan; explodedperspective view ofthe needle presentinvention showing Vthe needleto r Fig. 4- is: a greatly enlarged Ifragmentary sectional` View be packaged; thereinin position; and f Fig. 6 isa developed'view of one "element ofthe needle Y package ofhthe present invention..-

lreferably, the present invention comprises a transparent box Aand cover, a portion of which is lled byv a resihent pad of so-called foam plastic such-as polyureat-hane,`and another portion/ot` which is ostensibly. lled .bya V`folded paper or cardboardmember which dene's a hollow space in the'container -for installation aids or tools."

rIheneedle is adapted` to lie on top of thesponge `pad of foam plastic and when Vthe cover is closed is depressed into ,the foam plastic in a mannerrso ythat an effective :threedim'ensional view thr'e'ofethrough Vthe transparent conltainer is visible.y The` folded paper or'cardboard meniber-,ZpaItof ywhich is visible through thecover and also through the bottom, contaiii'sihe necessaryindiciaidentifdying the' f needle and the" instructions forV installing fille esame, andpreferably also includesV a portion .extending outside the container'which functions asa reorder ticket. foam plastic ifs' preferably color coded to identify theV speed. o fithe record withfwhichthe needle is` to be u'se'd. so that a quick Ycheck maybe had'separate from't'he lspecific needle identification information included infthe inventory o fcertain needles, particularly when fhe musty stock Vliterally jhundreds of diierent needles.` To end itwould bedesirable-for -suchgneedle packagerto containsome means for aiding in reordering needles forv his stock or to'aid in the inventoryof needles.

Preferably, aneedle package .should be one whereby the needle is visible Vto Vthe seller and purchaser, 'i partly as anaid to the` sellerto know thathe is selling the right needle in viewing the'needledirectlywithout havingtoy prising a'boxv portion Y11 and a cover portion4 12` f.f"or

open the package, and supplementingthe indicia thatv isY -rectangularfor-ithelike, but'forl purposes-which'vvlll Y come apparent fromY the ensuing"`des'cr'iption, it`is "pi"ef-V indicated kin the drawingasl. It` will be appreciated 'that the container I0, including the bottom 1 1y and 'cover .172, may V have 'any coniiguration Vsuch as circular,

Patented'JulY 12,1960

A .navire vthe drawing, there gefilitrs'trefeei-fia Fig. 1 a needle package generallydesi'gnated at 10 com- 2,944,663V 'Y A.

terably rectangular as indicated and formed from a suit? able plastic material which is both Vtransparent and suiiiciently rigid so that the container 1t) will hold its shape indefinitely. Preferably, it is formed from an acrylic resin. such vas 'methyimethacrylate although iobviolusly it .may be formed front. numerousotheri-plastics. lvlethy'l- 'rnethacrylate is a Atransparent .plastic having desirable characteristics from Vthe standpointv ofVY light transmission and, additionally, provides. a suliciently rigid housing.

5,"which insures engagement of fthe cover only over a relatively vsmall area. Additionally, the -cover 12 :is kprolvided with finger cutouts designated at `14, whereby the bottom of the container 11 may -be held vbetween ltwo lingers or a thumb and linger for Vfacilitating removal ofthe cover. l

1n accordance with the present invention there is disposed within the container a needle cushion yor sponge V pad 155 in the -form of .a so-called foam plastic.' Qbvious- 1y, this needle cushion could be foam rubberor the like.

Preferably, it comprises polyureathane, sometimes called ureathane rubber. As illustrated, the needle cushion 15 is rectangular in shape and lls at least one-half the volume of the container 10. The needle 13 is disposed on the xcushion 15 and, since the latter fills the container 10, the needle will be depressed by the cover 12 into -the `foam plastic or cushion. By virtue of the lighttransmitting characteristics of the acrylic vresin `from which the container is formed and the fact Vthat the needle ispushed into the cushion 15, as is clearly indi- `cated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, a very excellent threedimensional ViewV of the needle is obtained through the transparent cover 12 of the container 10.

" The sponge pad or cushion 1'5 is preferably lmade in "different colors so as elfectivelyvto be color *coded for y 'the speeds of the phonograph with which the needle is to be used. For example, a green color pad might be used for needles useful Vfor all record speeds; a blue pad might be used for needles useful for 78 r.p.m. `records; and a pink pad might be used for needles to be used with 33%-45 rpm. record speeds.

Obviously, still other colors can be employed forother speeds if there are such. It should be appreciated that the particular `color coding suggested is purely by way of explanation.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a label 17 formed of light cardboard or paper which is at least partially disposed Within the container 10 and which contains identication information, instructions for replacing the needle and the like, all of which information is visible through the container without removing thelabeh As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6 `of the drawing, the label 17 is made of a plurality of parts specifically identified as 17a, 17b, 17C, 17d, 17e,

17f, 17g, 17h and 171', all of which portions are interconnected or, in other words, formed from an integral sheet of paper or carboard. From Fig. 6 'it will be ap- 'parent that portions 17a, 17e, 17d and 17e are narrow aps extending VfromV each of the four sides of `portion 17b of label 17, being connected thereto by folds of score lines 18, 19, 2t) and 21, respectively. When folded. along these lines in the manner designated in Fig. V2 of the drawing, these portions of the label form a sort of box open at the bottom and of a size to completely ll Vthe space in container 1) not filled in by sponge pad 15. Thus, there is defined a hollow space designated by the reference numeral 22 in Fig. 2 of the drawing` which "may contain installation aids generally designated as 23 and 24 lin Fig. 2 of the drawing which'mig'ht comprise tools., nuts or similar material. The portion 17j of the label 17 is integrally attached to the portion 17e at a fold line 26 and is of such a size as to completely fill the bottom of the container 10. Preferably, suitable indicia is placed on the section 17]c of the label with respect to removing the old needle 'andinstalling the new needle, and this information is visible through the bottom of the portion 11 Vof lthe container 10. Y

In accordance with .the present vinvention the sections 17g, 17h and 171' ofthe label fare all Vjoined together and Ycomprise extensions.v of the section 17] remote from` the fold line 26. As illustrated, the section 17g isk joined to the section 1'7]c by fold line.27. The section 17h is joined to the section 17g by a pair of closely spaced score lines 28 and 29., and the section 171' is joined to the section 17h by a score line 30; It will be apparent that the section 17g extends along the end of the box :portion 11' `between the end wall and the sponge pad 15, and the space between the score ylines 2,8 and 29 lies on -top of theltop edge of the. end wall vof container portion 11. The portion 17h, on the other hand, is confined between this end Wall of the vcontainer portion 1,1 land .the corresponding end wall 'of kthe cover .12 so that the section 171" of the label :.17 is. outside `the container 10 -and effectively disposed parallel with the bottom thereof.

'Thisportion "1 71' of the label 17 is preferably a tear type reorder ticket which is torn off by the dealer lalong the score line 30 when 'the needle is sold for use in reordering and -to .permit a constant inventory control of th'e particular needle. It also, preferably includes informationwith respect tothe needle for an aid in reordering. .f

SIt willv be apparent that various indicia may be inl-cluded on the different flaps of the label 1 7. For example, the iiap 17h, which is exposed'through the cover Y12 includes the principal identification indicia such as the number :of the needle or the like.` Price information,

-record speed, the type of needle, etc. included on the V*other flaps,l such as. 17a, 17C, 17d, `17h and the like. "Preferably, the .portion 17h maybe ycolor coded to indifcate 'whether the. needle of a particular type. For example,'one color such as zgold could be :used to indicate it was a diamond needle; silver could be used to indicate it was sapphire; and other colors could be used -to indicate precious `or other metal'needles.

It' will be appreciated that in packaging the needle the Vlabel 17 with the suitable indicia contained thereon is folded in the manner .indicatedY in Fig. 5 of the drawing land -irst inserted in the'box portion 11 'of container 10.

VAny installation 'aids will be placed in the space 22 before the section 17b of the label isv moved into place. 'Ihereafter the sponge pad 15 will be .put 'in the remaining space so that electively Ythe 'entire Vspace in the portion 11V of the container Y10'vi's iilled. The needle is then placed on theV sponge pad 15 and the cover 12 put on. The

Yribs 11a thenrengage the depending portions of the cover 12 so as to hold the cover in place. The reorder ticket portion 17iof the label extends outside the container so as 'to be readily torn when aA sale lis made. y

From the laboveV detailed description the desirable features of theV needle package of the present inventionwill readily be understood by those skilled -in theart,` In removing the needle from the package, 'the sponge pad '15 may be lifted out as an aid to removing the needle withj out danger to delicate parts of the needle. -Moreover, the sponge pad nestles the needle in the package fyi/ithV the iciic .ernboliment ofV theA present invention, Ait will be understoodv that 'numerous appended claims to `cover'all those changes and modi- ,cations that fall within the true Yspirit and scope ofthe invention; f I

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A package including a phonograph stylus, tools for installing said stylus, a rigid container formed by a bottom tray and a cover telescoping over said tray, said tray and said cover being formed of transparent material, a rectangular block of resilient material disposed in one end of said tray adjacent a iirst end wall thereof and occupying all of the space at that end, said block being deformable and having a thickness approximately equal to the depth of the tray so as to hold the stylus between said block and said cover, and a folded paper member disposed in said container and folded to define a rectangularly shaped chamber containing said tools and taking up the space in said container not occupied by said block, said paper member including an end fold lying adjacent a second end wall of the tray, a pair of side folds respectively lying adjacent the opposed side walls of the tray, a top fold lying adjacent the cover and a bottom fold extending along the inside bottom of the tray from said second end wall and beneath said block, whereby the bottom fold cooperates with the end fold, the side folds and the top fold to conceal Ithe interior of the chamber from the exterior of the container, said bottom fold having a ap extending upwardly along the inside of said 'rst end wall, said flap extending downwardly along the outside of said iirst end wall .between said tray Iand said cover and terminating in a detachable integral extension located outside of said container.

2. The package dened by claim 1 wherein the integral extension is attached to the flap by a weakened score line lying adjacent the outside bottom of said rst end wall so that said kextension may be removed by tearing -along the score line.

3.--'Ihe packagedened byV claim 1 wherein the'covery is provided with cutout notches in opposed downwardly extending walls vthereof to permit said Ytray to be held while the cover is lifted therefrom.

4. The package defined by claim 3 wherein the'telescoping cover and tray respectively include adjacent walls at least one of which is provided with external projections frictionally engaging the other to hold the cover and the tray together.

5. The package defined by claimk 1 wherein the resilient block is formed of a material having a color correspondy ing to the type of stylus contained'in the package.

changes and Y mainstream may occur to those skilled in the art. lt is aimed in the` A package including a phonograph styl-uSv`,v-tools for Y .installing said stylus, a rigid container formed by a bottom tray and a cover telescoping over said tray, said tray and said cover being formed of transparent material, a rectangular block of resilient material disposed in one end ofsaid tray adjacent a first end wall thereof and occupying all of the space at that end, said block being deformable and having `a thickness approximately equal to the depth of the tray so as tov hold the stylus between said block and said cover, and a folded paper member disposed in said container and folded to define a rectangularly shaped chamber containing said tools and taking up the space in said container not occupied by said block, said paper member including an end fold lying adjacent a second end wall of the tray, a pair of side folds respectively lying vadjacent the opposed side walls ofthe tray, a top fold lying adjacent the cover and a bottom fold extending from said second end wall along the inside bottom of the tray, whereby the bottom fold cooperates with the side folds, the end fold and the top fold to conceal the interior of the chamber from the exterior of the container, said paper member having a flap extending Vdownwardly along the outside of one of the walls of said tray between said tray and said cover and terminating in a detachable integral extension located outside of said container.

7. The package dened by claim 6 wherein the integral extension is attached to the iiap by a weakened score line lying adjacent the outside bottom of said one wall so that said extension may be removed by tearing along the score line.

References Cited in the iile of this patent OTHER REFERENCES Modern Packaging-Functional Styrene Foam, page 97, August 1953. 

